Ah, thank you all so much for the input. Yes the Gluhwein sounds like a recipe that I found online called "mulled wine". And I have heard of Glog before as well. i95 the recipe would be interesting and I would like to give it a try. But I think that the Gluhwein/Mulled Wine could be the one that I had that time at the restaurant.

If you're willing to travel a few hours from the Chicago area, you might try the Kaiserhof German restaurant in Bradford Illinois. Some friends and family members say it's the best German food they've had.

Here are a couple of decent German restaurants located in some out-of-the-way places:

The Dorf Haus, located in the village of Roxbury, Wisconsin, about 20 miles northwest of Madison. It is on County Road Y (the main road through Roxbury) about 1 1/4 miles east of U.S. 12.

The Schnitzelbank Restaurant, 393 Third Ave.(State Hwy. 162S), Jasper, Indiana, about 65 miles northeast of Evansville.

As for Frankenmuth, Michigan, there are no German restaurants there. The restaurants have a few token "German" foods on the menu, but... The Bavarian Inn is advertised as a fried chicken restaurant, as is Zehnder's of Frankenmuth -- and the Frankenmuth Brewery is a micro-brewery that also serves food.

A few years ago in Cleveland, the Hofbrau Haus closed after over 50 years. We had to find another favorite, and now we eat at Der Braumeister on the west side. It's not much from the outside, and definitely in a working-class part of town, but the food is excellent and the beer selection is unparalleled. Here's a link for the curious:http://www.wkyc.com/dining/2001/braumeister.asp

Also there's a couple of Eastern European restaurants in the area that are worth going to. About a half hour drive east of Cleveland is Sutter's Restaurant, in a tiny town called Newbury, near Geauga County's Amish community. Sutter's has more veal and schnitzel variations than any restaurant I've been to. They have "schnitzel Genovese", "schnitzel Oscar" and morehttp://www.clevescene.com/issues/2001-06-28/cafe.html

Out in Vermilion, about 30 miles west of Cleveland is Old Prague Restaurant (only open in summertime I think).www.oldprague.com

I remember a Hofbrau (sp) House in New Haven many years ago, but I can't recall ever going there. There was an Old Heidelberg there, too, but I don't remember ever eating anything in the place, other than potato chips. I think the closest I've ever come to eating in a German restaurant is Schmidt's in the German Village section of Columbus.

The German Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin is the Essen Haus. Food is ok, but the atmosphere is the best. Polka band every friday & saturday night. The best German food I have had in Wisconsin is at Weissgerber's Golden Mast Inn in Oconomowoc, WI on the shore of Okauchee Lake. Excellent food.

We have had one excellent German restaurant experience. Several years ago, we discovered Wiederkehr Wine Cellars' Restaurant in Altus, Arkansas - just a little east of Fort Smith on I-40. We returned this past Labor Day weekend for Sunday lunch and it was fantastic. Well worth a stop, if you are in the area.

Ok, another question to any capital-area Germanophiles. Looking for good German restaurants in the DC area. Any suggestions?

Sorry that I'm a bit late on this, but you should also check out a restaurant called Wurzburg Haus in Rockville. Here is a link to a review. www.washingtonian.com/dining/restaurantDetail.asp?id=235Forget about the calories for one night and try the wiener schnitzel with home fries and the apple streudel for dessert. Delicious!

Varelas, how's the Hofbrauhaus in West Springfield? My wife and I noticed that when we were heading over to the White Hut last month. We already had reservations at the Student Prince for that night, though.

Ok, another question to any capital-area Germanophiles. Looking for good German restaurants in the DC area. Any suggestions?

Sorry that I'm a bit late on this, but you should also check out a restaurant called Wurzburg Haus in Rockville. Here is a link to a review. www.washingtonian.com/dining/restaurantDetail.asp?id=235Forget about the calories for one night and try the wiener schnitzel with home fries and the apple streudel for dessert. Delicious!

hello all you lovers of good food. i finally can add my submission as the website is finally finished

for all those that live in the Washington, DC area, here is another one for you to check out. http://www.euro-bistro.com/. the restaurant is in Reston (northern virginia), about 10 minutes from Dulles airport. the chef is Austrian and has cooked in the area for quite a while. small place, great food, plus special events. enough said...

KimChee, was the the Bohemia Inn that was on Rte. 47 north of Lily Lake? I used to love going there, in the summer you would see the Grandmother out in the garden, cutting herbs.

KLAND01S: Yes! It's been closed for a number of years now. The Grandmother, of course, has been dead for some years; likewise, her son. We used to patronize the restaurant up until her son died, even though the kitchen was very inconsistent. After her grandson took over the business (I think he was pretty young; maybe late 20s), they arrested him for murder. Of course, the restaurant was shut down then. He was later convicted, even though the police never found the body. (Or maybe they found parts of it. I don't remember. It's been a while.) Do you remember reading about that in the newspapers? Yeah the leather clad punk rocker grandson supposedly buried the transient's (living in their creepy motel) body parts out in grandma's garden. He had been decapitated. I lived right over on Silver Glen Rd. We went there all the time- mostly to pick up beer late at night. VERY creepy place- A real life Motel Hell.Also very musty odor going on there.Used to go to Han's Bavarian Lodge in Wheeling until the owners got tired of it. I think,Kimchee if you try some of the Polish places around the area you'll find much of the same food you'll find in a German place. Good luck and keep us posted. BTW i really can't stop thinking about that mohawked punk guy at the little Bohemia right now- too weird!

Does that mean happy new year, or what? Sometimes time, that's all I can translate.

Beautiful website. And I live in Colorado, and will probably never make it to your lovely restaurant, but I think showing pictures of the food in the menu's menu's is a wonderful, and very very smart thing to do, in terms of marketing.

jeepguy, yes, I do remember about the weirdness out there! I had forgotten about that! It became another restaurant that feature wild game for awhile, not sure what it is now because I don't go that way every often. There is still Gasthaus Zur Linde in downtown Elgin, on Grove Street but I haven't been there in ages. I have friends who belong to the local German club and swear by Bavaria Hof which is on Roselle Road in Schaumburg.

Hello, all- Sorry for my absence. A special apology to i95- i neglected to reply to you back in January. I have had to attend to some rather serious matters (please do not ask).Schmankerl Stube in Hagerstown, MD is still going strong. Hagerstoen is a short drive up 65 north of Antietam (or Sharpsburg) Battlefield.They have smoking and non-smoking sections and do not seem to have a problem with children. They do ask that you make reservations.I believe they have Hacker-Pschorr on tap.Here is the link to their website:

also, thank you for the compliments on the site. i wanted to create something that is somewhat unique. showing photos without annoying people with pop ups. guess i managed ok

i have gone there for a few years as a customer (being from Austria myself, i have high expectations). i started working there on weekends last fall and really felt it needed a nice website to showcase the place. the owner is a great cook, i just like to help him out with some of the marketing

did a quick check on your flight too. roundtrip from denver should be around $300. save a dollar a day and i see you next may

prost mahlzeit

quote:

Originally posted by Pwingsx

Hey, prost mahlzeit,

Does that mean happy new year, or what? Sometimes time, that's all I can translate.

Beautiful website. And I live in Colorado, and will probably never make it to your lovely restaurant, but I think showing pictures of the food in the menu's menu's is a wonderful, and very very smart thing to do, in terms of marketing.

Hello, all- Sorry for my absence. A special apology to i95- i neglected to reply to you back in January. I have had to attend to some rather serious matters (please do not ask).Schmankerl Stube in Hagerstown, MD is still going strong. Hagerstoen is a short drive up 65 north of Antietam (or Sharpsburg) Battlefield.They have smoking and non-smoking sections and do not seem to have a problem with children. They do ask that you make reservations.I believe they have Hacker-Pschorr on tap.Here is the link to their website:

www.schmankerlstube.com

Take care, all

mek

I do not particularly like much about this restaurant. We have eaten there quite a few times as my son loves that huge container of beer.....but I find the servers to be cool and not very friendly; the owner runs hot and cold. Sometimes, he is very jovial and sometimes he is very overbearing. Some portions tend to be very small.

You certainly can take children there. We see them there all the time even though there is no children's menu available. We always order the children an order of applesauce and an order of spaetzle when we have eaten there.

The food is Bavarian and very well prepared but most items are overpriced (when you consider the service and coolness of the place).

I do not particularly like much about this restaurant. We have eaten there quite a few times as my son loves that huge container of beer.....but I find the servers to be cool and not very friendly; the owner runs hot and cold. Sometimes, he is very jovial and sometimes he is very overbearing. Some portions tend to be very small.

You certainly can take children there. We see them there all the time even though there is no children's menu available. We always order the children an order of applesauce and an order of spaetzle when we have eaten there.

The food is Bavarian and very well prepared but most items are overpriced (when you consider the service and coolness of the place).

Had dinner there last night and must unfortunately mostly agree with chezkatie.

On the positive side: beautiful place and the beers on tab are great

I do not feel right about posting anything negative in this forum. if you e-mail me directly, I 'll be happy to reply to you in private

On Looooooooooooong Island, NY there are still a few---here are four or five I have had dinner at----- Once upon a time Queens had a dozen great German Restaurants in the Woodhaven area. Little by little they disappeared as the neighborhood changed, but there is one still on Myrtle Ave or Woodhaven Blvd it is right in the middle of a number of cemeteries and is often the place for lunch after a funeral. Can't remember the name. Then a little further east, off Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park you can find Koenigs, they have been there forever. A mile or so south is The Platdeusch complete with a park for soccer or whatever. Both are fun places. The best is Ruoff's in Smithtown. 1st class all the way. Duck, venison, whatever, they have it. Excellent restaurant. Just remembered another on Jericho Turnpike in Elwood. It used to be Fred's Diner, but since Fred retired his kid's took over and made it a restaurant---still called Fred's it is cheaper and great food. The Bavarian Inn on Lake Ronkonkoma used to be a great place for dinner. They had a funny little accordian player during the week and dancing and entertainment on weekends---lots of fun, don't know if it is still as good.

okay- so no one really is all that close to Jasper, Indiana, but if you hunger for spaetzel and schnitzel, it's quite worth the drive.

My husband grew up in Germany as an Army brat, and he boasts to family about our proximity to such a great selection of schnitzel.

The Evansville area is actually quite German in heritage- names like Heidelbach, Schmidt, Boeke, and Shutte grace the roads- towns like Darmstadt and Haubstadt spot the periphery.

Newburgh, Indiana has Fritz's Bier Haus, but though it's an established restaurant (recently moved to a new location) I only found out about it last week and haven't been able to dine there yet. My husband's year-old vegetarianism has slowed our German food consumption considerably.

In Evansville, there is a newer German restaurant called The Gerst Bavarian Haus. It's more of an imported beer place with sauerkraut than a established local place like Schnitzelbank or Fritz's. It's on West Franklin Avenue.

For a German good time & atmosphere, with a limited menu- Evansville's Germania Mannechoir has an August Volksfest with Oompa bands, polka squads, chicken dances, and large men in laderhosen. Needless to say- gemutlikeit flows as freely as the beer. http://www.germania.evansville.net/

The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival in Evansville the first full week of October also has some German food offerings (kuchen, etc.). The festival itself is gluttony & indulgence. Local media report it to be 2nd largest food festival after Mardi Gras. The most important thing is that most of the food vendors are local non-pofits (so every's grandmas and aunties are doing the cooking). Good eats! [url]www.nutclub.org[/url]

Further north in Central Indiana The Rathskeller in Indianapolis offers many German & some American items, but the BierGarten is the place to be for summer entertainment. The restaurant is in the former German-American Club of Indianapolis. Great atmosphere! Fun acts like Polkaboy!

Untested is Jasper's Strassenfest, in October. [url]www.jasperstrassenfest.org[/url] But we're hoping to go this year (myself and VeggieBoy) and will report back. If it's anything like Schnitzelbank in quality, this is German hog heaven.

I have a love affair with a little German place in Hudson Wisconsin, The Winzerstube. They have the most delicious Fish dishes that I don't usually think of getting at a German place. Also the Schnitzel and Saurbraten are out of this world. Also I like to have the food with instead of Beer or wine a delicious German apple cider with just a little alcohol in it, it is very refreshing.

In California there is a great little gem in Sea Side California just north of Carmel it is Stammtisch, this place is more Swiss/German. The food is very good, it is somewhat lighter than Bavarian or Thuringian etc. They have the best Brussel Sprout soup in the World. Even if you hated Brussel Sprouts you might enjoy this.

We were looking at summer camps in the Poconos and stumbled on a little restuarant that has a lot of german food. We were the only people there under about 50. They have a guy who plays an organ as entertainment on weekends and they seem to have a group of regulars who take trips together. It's one of those palces that is frozen in time. They have a German drinking song on their menu, but I've never heard anyone sing it.

http://www.thefiresiderestaurant.com/Menu.asp

Ancient Mariner: I have been to both Koenigs and Freds. Both are quite good. There used to be a German restaurant out in Middle Island called the Island Squire- friends of ours had their wedding reception there. It closed about five years ago.

Maybe all this Atkins stuff will revive some german food, but it's hard to imagine German food without potato pancakes/duumplings (my favorites,especially with a crouton in the middle and fried in some caramalized onions!) and a big big mug of beer.

There is a lovely little German restaurant in downtown Waverly, IA called Martin's Brandenburg. I've had a couple of lovely meals there. The chef, Martin, came to the US from Germany a few years ago with his family. He comes out of the kitchen and checks on his guests -- he does a wonderful job with the food. The meal starts with a little plate of various sausages, cheese spread, veggies, etc. Yummy food, generous portions -- very different from the German restaurants in the Amanas, a popular spot also in Iowa. The Brandenburg is much smaller, more authentic I think.

Danmel-----The Island Squire was one of my favorites. It was operated by John Wild, a great baritone. On weekends they had entertainment which included John's singing. He started as a kid singing at the Sunrise Village, a Bavarian Beer Hall and Restaurant on (you guessed it ) Sunrise Highway. That was a great place. Long gone.

If I am not mistaken I have been to the Fireside as well. My best buddy's son was part of a dixieland group that played there in the 80's----- I know he played in a place like that,in that area, and they served German food. Small world.

We spent half a day at the German Festival in Jasper Indiana last Fall. It was a nice community festival with a lot of knee-slappin' Oompah music and dancing in the town square. Much more a local festival with some German atmosphere than a 'German Fest'. But it was a good time for sure.

I feel the same, KIMCHEE. On our road trip this summer, I found a couple of OK places near the Chicago area. One place NOT to go is Germantown, WIS! I was so disappointed not to find one German restaurant there. Milwaukee's Mader's was OK, but the German restaurant/beer hall with the working Glockenspiel in Wisconsin Dells (forgot name) was much better, but they had canned-type potato salad. The liver dumpling soup was worth the trip! The German pavilion at Epcot Center in Disneyworld has a buffet that has some authentic-tasting items (spaetzle and red cabbage). I would love to find a place that served the Schweinshaxe like the monasteries in Bavaria do every Sunday. I understand there are several good places in the San Antonio area--my next trip.

That would be true. Foods preferences, as well as dialects, vary in Germany. But here, most German restaurants seem to feature the hearty foods of the south. Perhaps in another era, when the U.S. had many more German restaurants than it does now, other German cooking styles could be found here.

Not sure about the potato salad thing. Maybe that was created by German-Americans.

Was driving south today in northeastern Maryland, near the Delaware border, along Route 40 and passed something called the German Gasthuas, somewhere south of Aberdeen. Anyone ever tried it? Is it good?

On Looooooooooooong Island, NY there are still a few---here are four or five I have had dinner at----- but there is one still on Myrtle Ave or Woodhaven Blvd it is right in the middle of a number of cemeteries and is often the place for lunch after a funeral. Can't remember the name.

You're probably thinking of Niedersteins on Metropolitan Ave in Middle Village. It's been there since the 1800's. The only other place in the area that caters to funerals is Durrow's on Myrtle. In that section of Queens for German food, I'd go to Zum Stamtish (trans: To the special table) on Myrtle and Cooper. The bar with the split rail hanging from the ceiling to rest your drinks on is a must see. Another popular place is Gerhart's also on Myrtle.

As I'm writing this I've gotten an email that tells me the German Genealogy group from Long Island will have their fall dinner at the Bavarian Inn.

Dunker Mein heir-----Since I am not German but only an adopted son the spelling may be way off, but du bis correct ----Nierersteins was the place I was thinking of. And then you reminded me of Durow's---when I was a lad of dating age that was a good place to go on a Saturday eveing----dinner, dancing,a few beers mid the frueleins and "alls right with the world". The Bavarian Inn was Ronk Shores when I was a kid, then low and behold it was transformed into a Bavarian Rathskeller by Willie Some-thing-or-other. It was a great dinner and dancing place. Have a great time mein heir, auf weidersein--------------please excuse all spelling----

BTW, ancient mariner, I heard yesterday that the current owner of Neidersteins is trying to close the place down. The building's landmark status may be in the way of the building's disposal. At least that the rumor I heard.

You spoke of Ruoff's several times. That name rings no bells and I'm from the area; are you referring to Smithown Haus in (of course) Smithtown?

Yah vole Heir Kozel------yep----the old name was Ruoffs. They had a great reputation---the last time I was there was 1995, the food was super. My Mom lived in Ronkonkoma and my sister and I were visiting. We went to Smithtown and had dinner in the Smithtown Haus for auld lang sine !!!!! By the way next time you are in NY City look up Hallo Berlin --just off 9th Ave about 58th Street. Great place. Inexpensive German food and great beer on tap. Nothing fancy, just good food. Auf Weidersane........Can't spell in German worth a darn. But it is fun.

A wonderful german restaurant in the last place you'd expect it--Rockville. Maryland. Wurzburg Haus has been feeding Washingtonians for many years now. This is a Bavarian, traditional restaurant, located at 7236 Muncaster Mill road.

Two recommendations: The Black Forest Inn in Minneapolis is the best German restaurant I've ever eaten at. I could make a meal out of the sauerbraten aspic . . . in fact, I have!

But if you're anywhere near New Ulm, MN in mid-July, you must stop at Heritagefest. It's put on by the Schell brewery, and it's nothing but an excuse to drink beer and eat German food cooked up by sweet little old church ladies. Sometimes late at night I can hear the Kartoffelsalat and Landjaeger (a spicy, garlicky smoked beef sausage) calling my name.

A wonderful german restaurant in the last place you'd expect it--Rockville. Maryland. Wurzburg Haus has been feeding Washingtonians for many years now. This is a Bavarian, traditional restaurant, located at 7236 Muncaster Mill road.

Just moved to Illinois and really appreciate all the info posted about good German restaurants. We took my mother-n-law to Gasthaus Zur Linde in Elgin two weeks ago and she was not impressed at all (she is from the mother land). No potatoe pancakes and the red cabbage tasted more like red beets.

Found a great deli- Alpenrose in Carpentersville.Pricey but excellent meats.

Anyone know where we can find Hummel Hot Dogs?Also, the German potatoe salad question...my "Mutter-n-Gesetz" makes it hot, made with oil and vinigar with bacon and slices of hard boiled egg on top. Personally, I still like it cold with tons of egg and mayo

I have eaten at Czech Village in Berwyn Ill on Cermack rd a few times. I was always with a large party so we ate family style. I do remember great breaded Vael cutlets, chicken and dumplings with gravy and Kolatchkies. Small Mom & Pop type place,full bar

You're probably thinking of Niedersteins on Metropolitan Ave in Middle Village. It's been there since the 1800's. The only other place in the area that caters to funerals is Durrow's on Myrtle. In that section of Queens for German food, I'd go to Zum Stamtish (trans: To the special table) on Myrtle and Cooper. The bar with the split rail hanging from the ceiling to rest your drinks on is a must see. Another popular place is Gerhart's also on Myrtle.

As I'm writing this I've gotten an email that tells me the German Genealogy group from Long Island will have their fall dinner at the Bavarian Inn.

I stumbled upon The Bavarian Inn and was shocked by the dearth of German dishes. There were maybe 5. I had sauerbraten that was excellent. Guess they do mainly parties/weddings now (gorgeous view of Lake Ronkonkama) and German food doesn't go over well with most people.

I have stumbled out of the Bavarian Inn a number of times, but never in, AuntKK. Having grown up in Ronkonkoma I knew it as Ronk Shores years ago and have witnessed some wonderful heavyweight bouts in its parking lot. Those were the good old days. When it opened it was all German food, and german entertainment on weekends----but it now has Greek owners I think. And, as you said, tastes have changed and---dere ain't no German food on that there Atkins diet.

Kraut by Marriage, you are correct about Helga's in Bethel, CT. I have been there several times and always thought the food was extraordinary. Some people may complain about the service or seemingly ambivalent attitudes of the hosts, but for me that is part of the experience. Once you get to know them they are warm and friendly people. Give it a try Roy, you might be pleasantly surprised.

If you spend some time in South Florida, you can find a number of good, authentic German Food, especially in Ft. Lauderdale. On East Commercial Blvd. there are two restaurants across the street from each other! On East Atlantic Blvd. there is another German Restaurant that serves a variety of excellent veal dishes priced inexpensively. They are easily recognized as flags are displayed defining there heritage.

I've just "discovered" this forum, and this topic. The opening post "Where have all the German restaurants gone?", is a question I've wondered about over the past couple of decades.

I've been to some of the better known German restaurants in the U.S., including Maders and Karl Rausch's in Milwaukee. I've been to Frankenmuth, MI, and concur that just from my brief experiences, it is more tourist than the home of top notch German cuisine.

Sadly, the same can be said for the created Bavarian town of Leavenworth, WA, where the best place, in my opinion, is King Ludwig's. It is decent but not up to the standards of Maders or Karl Rausch's.

An earlier post from a San Diego poster caught my eye:

" Posted - 06/10/2004 : 22:51:27 ------------------------------------------------------------------------Any one of you know a good German restaurant on the left coast? The Only one that I know of is in cold,expensive San Diego!..................................

Having lived on the West Coast (CA, OR and WA) now for three decades (originally from PA), I oftened pondered the same problem. In my years of searching, I can recommend two.

Schroeder's Cafe in San Francisco (advertised as the oldest German restaurant in CA), and, in my opinion, the best: Horst Mager's Rhinelander in Portland., OR.

There are a few places in Seattle than are mentioned as worthwhile by others, but in my view, they don't measure up to the experience (quality, portion size, selection and ambience) of the two previously mentioned places.

Same with Southern California. From living in Orange County during two different periods, the search for a high quality German restaurant experience - after which you are already planning to go back - just wasn't to be found.

The Rhinelander in Portland is the best on the "Left Coast" to my way of judging restaurants.

I've just "discovered" this forum, and this topic. The opening post "Where have all the German restaurants gone?", is a question I've wondered about over the past couple of decades.

I've been to some of the better known German restaurants in the U.S., including Maders and Karl Rausch's in Milwaukee. I've been to Frankenmuth, MI, and concur that just from my brief experiences, it is more tourist than the home of top notch German cuisine.

Sadly, the same can be said for the created Bavarian town of Leavenworth, WA, where the best place, in my opinion, is King Ludwig's. It is decent but not up to the standards of Maders or Karl Rausch's.

An earlier post from a San Diego poster caught my eye:

" Posted - 06/10/2004 : 22:51:27 ------------------------------------------------------------------------Any one of you know a good German restaurant on the left coast? The Only one that I know of is in cold,expensive San Diego!..................................

Having lived on the West Coast (CA, OR and WA) now for three decades (originally from PA), I oftened pondered the same problem. In my years of searching, I can recommend two.

Schroeder's Cafe in San Francisco (advertised as the oldest German restaurant in CA), and, in my opinion, the best: Horst Mager's Rhinelander in Portland., OR.

There are a few places in Seattle than are mentioned as worthwhile by others, but in my view, they don't measure up to the experience (quality, portion size, selection and ambience) of the two previously mentioned places.

Same with Southern California. From living in Orange County during two different periods, the search for a high quality German restaurant experience - after which you are already planning to go back - just wasn't to be found.

The Rhinelander in Portland is the best on the "Left Coast" to my way of judging restaurants.

Some 25 years ago, there was a German resteraunt in the San Fernando Valley, called Old Heidelburg. I don't know if it is still there, but the food was outstanding. I would like to know, actually. We lived in Glendale, and went over there on an average of once a month. Eventually, we moved to the SF area. After that, we lost track.

Someone asked where to find "Hummell" hotdogs. I've sold them in Connecticut for nearly half a century. They are especially popular in Fairfield & New Haven County, Ct. They are distributed to most delicatessans & fast food restaurants in those areas. The quality is excellent & taste is outstanding. Our restaurant recently was reviewed & received "a ten best hotdog" recognition from impartial judges. At this time Hummell has one of the most consistant, high quality hotdogs on the market. Check them out! Mrmac

Can't tell you how thrilled I am to find this site...my wife and I live for this stuff, as we have lived and traveled throuhout the country, and are willing to go way out of our way to find these local independent places!

As for German, the Chicago Brauhaus is by far the best we've encountered anywhere in the country (and I don't say that simply becuase we just moved to an apartment literally a 90 second walk to their front door). Literally everything on the menu is perfect..from the lightly battered, tender veal to the best roast duck I've ever eaten. On top of all this the atmosphere is frenetic, with the funky band playing everything from German standards to Elvis. This is NOT an "ooompah" band as some reviews have stated....they truly defy description and must be seen to be believed. Add the fact that 2/3 of the customers are Germans who have been living in the neighborhood for decades, and it's hard to imagine a more satisfying, fun evening. We have to force ourselves NOT to go every weekend!

Well, autumn is here. It's getting on Oktoberfest time. I've got a hankering for some really fine German cuisine. Where can it be found? We've eaten at the Berghoff and Chicago Brauhaus in Chicago. Neither one did much for us at all. Our absolute favorite used to be Dieterle's in Elgin, Illinois, but it closed years ago. We've tried Mader's and Karl Ratsch's in Milwaukee. Wasn't too keen on those either. We're willing to make a weekend road trip to find some good German food. Somebody please tell us where it is?!

Many thanks.

KimChee43

I too, wonder where all the good german restaurants have gone? I live north of the Michigan-Indiana stateline and there isn't any good ones around here for a least a 75 miles radius. For many many years there was a good German one, in South Bend Indiana,it was called Hans Haus, but it closed about 11 or 12 years ago!